Senate the Senate Met at 10:30 A.M
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 107 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 148 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2002 No. 27 Senate The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and was APPOINTMENT OF ACTING SCHEDULE called to order by the Honorable MARY PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Mr. REID. Madam President, we will L. LANDRIEU, a Senator from the State The PRESIDING OFFICER. The shortly conclude the debate on the con- of Louisiana. clerk will please read a communication firmation. The two Senators from Alas- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Rabbi to the Senate from the President pro ka are going to speak about the new Abraham Shemtov, National Director tempore (Mr. BYRD). judge they are going to get in Alaska. of American Friends of Lubavitch, will The assistant legislative clerk read I also note that we are moving along lead us in prayer this morning. the following letter: with the energy bill. We have some im- portant amendments pending. We have U.S. SENATE, PRAYER PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, a number of important issues. There is The guest Chaplain offered the fol- Washington, DC, March 12, 2002. now talk of being able to complete this lowing prayer: To the Senate: bill by a week from this Friday. Almighty God, our Father in heaven, Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, As everyone knows, the important grace this august body of the U.S. Sen- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby issues that remain—there are a lot of ate with wisdom, strength, vision, and appoint the Honorable MARY L. LANDRIEU, a important issues, but the matters that Senator from the State of Louisiana, to per- appear to be quite contentious are clear focus as they seek to lead this form the duties of the Chair. Nation, and as this Nation leads the those dealing with CAFE standards, ROBERT C. BYRD, ANWR drilling, and electricity regula- world in the struggle of freedom President pro tempore. tion. So it appears that there is light against tyranny and of good over evil. Ms. LANDRIEU thereupon assumed As the world marks the 100th anni- at the end of the tunnel and that we the chair as Acting President pro tem- can finish this legislation. We cer- versary since the birth of Lubavitcher pore. Rebbe, Rebbe Menachem Mendel tainly hope so. But Members are going Schneerson, of blessed memory, we f to have to be willing to come and offer must heed his teachings that unity is amendments, and Members are going so much stronger than division, good- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME to have to be ready to vote at all times of the day and night. ness is so much better than evil. His The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- message to people of various origins pore. Under the previous order, the f and persuasions was that we must al- leadership time is reserved. EXECUTIVE SESSION ways be on the same side, for we are all children of the same God. f We must find the inherent goodness NOMINATION OF RALPH R. in each other and encourage one an- RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING BEISTLINE, OF ALASKA, TO BE other to fulfill our charge from the Al- MAJORITY LEADER UNITED STATES DISTRICT mighty God to perfect the world under The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- JUDGE FOR THE DISTRICT OF His sovereignty. In this way we can pore. The Senator from Nevada is rec- ALASKA bring light in place of darkness, re- ognized. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- demption in place of despair, and hap- pore. Under the previous order, the f piness and peace to all who seek it. Senate will now go into executive ses- So as we may have opinions which ORDER OF PROCEDURE sion and proceed to the consideration differ, let us not waver. Let us be of Executive Calendar No. 706, which strong, and with God’s blessings, we Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask the clerk will report. will prevail. Amen. unanimous consent that the vote on The assistant legislative clerk read the confirmation of Executive Calendar the nomination of Ralph R. Beistline, f No. 706 occur at 11 o’clock this morn- of Alaska, to be United States District ing, that the additional time be divided Judge for the District of Alaska. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE as previously provided, and that the re- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- The Honorable MARY L. LANDRIEU led maining provisions of the previous pore. The Senator from Alaska. the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: order remain in effect, with no inter- Mr. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the vening action or debate. we are going to be voting in a few min- United States of America, and to the Repub- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- utes on Judge Ralph Beistline to be lic for which it stands, one nation under God, pore. Without objection, it is so or- United States District Judge in my indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. dered. State of Alaska. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S1737 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 20:30 Jan 09, 2014 Jkt 081600 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\2002SENATE\S12MR2.REC S12MR2 mmaher on DSKCGSP4G1 with SOCIALSECURITY S1738 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 12, 2002 Senator STEVENS, Representative tire delegation—Senator STEVENS, Rep- Courts of Appeal were confirmed, a YOUNG, and I are very pleased that this resentative YOUNG, and myself. We en- rate of approximately seven per year vote is about to take place. Before we thusiastically support his nomination on average, including one whole ses- vote, I would like to speak very briefly and look forward to voting on his nom- sion, 1996, in which no circuit court on the qualifications of Judge ination today. judges were confirmed at all. In only Beistline. I thank the Presiding Officer for her nine months of Democratic control of First of all, I thank all my colleagues attention. the Senate, seven of President Bush’s for moving expeditiously because in Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, nominees to the Courts of Appeals have spite of the prevailing attitude in Alas- Ralph Beistline is a lifelong Alaskan, been confirmed. Two additional circuit ka that it has taken too long to con- born in Fairbanks. He grew up in Alas- court nominees have had hearings and firm him, by standards around here it ka and will bring that important pro- the hearing scheduled for next week has moved along quite nicely. So I very spective to the bench. will include another circuit court much appreciate that. He served as a superior court judge nominee. No one would question Judge from 1992 until today and for the past 5 Under Democratic leadership we have Beistline’s qualifications or his fitness years he has been the presiding judge had more hearings, for more nominees, to serve on the Federal bench. He has in the Fairbanks Superior Court. and had more confirmations than the served with distinction in our State of He is married to Peggy Beistline and Republican leadership did for President Alaska for many years. He has always has five children: Carrie, Daniel, Ta- Clinton’s nominees during the first 9 been an asset to his community. He mara, Rebecca, and David. months of 1995. In each area—hearings, and Mrs. Beistline have had a commit- He is the former president of the number of nominees given hearings, ment to furthering the quality of life Alaska Bar Association, former presi- and number of nominees confirmed— for Alaskans, which is exemplified by dent of the Tanana Valley Bar Associa- this Committee has exceeded the com- their commitment to public service. tion, former president of the Alaska parable period when Republicans were Judge Beistline is truly an Alaskan. Conference of Judges, and a former in power. And 1995 was one of the most He was born in Fairbanks, AK. That member of the board of governors of productive years. It was 1996 and after happens to be my hometown. He is a the Alaska Bar Association. He has that the Republican majority began graduate of the University of Alaska, been a lawyer representative to the stalling the judicial confirmation proc- Fairbanks, and the University of Puget Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and ess and the session in which only 17 Sound Law School. His heart has al- was a long time pro-bono participant. judges were confirmed all year with ways been in the golden heart city of Ralph is also an executive board none to the Courts of Appeals. Fairbanks. member of the Boy Scouts of America Additionally, under Democratic lead- Judge Beistline served honorably in and a member of Igloo #4 Pioneers of ership, we have reformed the process the Army National Guard, the Army Alaska. and practices used in the past to deny Reserves, and the Air National Guard Hailing from Fairbanks, Ralph will Committee consideration of judicial for over 17 years. He was in private also bring further geographical balance nominees. The fact that 248 judicial practice in Fairbanks, AK. During this to the court. nominees were confirmed in the prior time, Judge Beistline distinguished I thank Chairman LEAHY and Senator 61⁄2 years of Republican leadership does himself as a hard-working, fair, honest, HATCH for moving his nomination to not diminish the fact that almost 60 and very popular lawyer—if, indeed, the floor. other judicial nominees never received that is the correct terminology for law- Mr.